Appendix C
Recommended Program Length

EMT-INTERMEDIATE: NATIONAL STANDARD CURRICULUM

RECOMMENDED COURSE HOURS

This project included a pilot and field testing of developmental drafts of the curriculum. Based on input from the pilot test, the field tests, national and peer review, there were significant changes to the curriculum after pilot and field testing. A panel of experts in EMS education used the pilot and field test data to develop recommended time frames for the EMT-Intermediate course. These time frames are meant only as a guide to help in program planing. Training institutes MUST adjust these times based on their individual needs, goals and objectives. These times are only recommendations, and should NOT be interpreted as minimums or maximums. Those agencies responsible for program oversight are cautioned against using these hours as a measure of program quality or having satisfied minimum standards. Competence of the graduate, not adherence to arbitrary time frames, is the only measure of program quality.

Based on these recommendations, it is suggested that the course be planned for approximately 300-400 total hours of instruction (175-225 classroom/practical laboratory, 50-75 clinical, 75-100 field internship.)

Recommended didactic time (hours)

Recommended practical laboratory time (hours)
Preparatory
Found. of the EMT-I Paramedic

3
Overview of Human System/Roles & Responsibilities

6
Emergency Pharmacology

12
Medication Administration

3

6
Module Totals

24

6
Airway Management & Ventilation
Airway and Ventilation

9

9
Module Totals

9

9
Patient Assessment
History Taking

1
Technique of Physical Examination

3

3
Patient Assessment

2

6
Clinical Decision Making

1
Communications

1

1
Documentation

1

1
Module Totals

9

11
Trauma
Trauma Systems/ Mechanism of Injury

2
Hemorrhage and Shock

2
Burns

1
Thoracic Trauma

3
Practical Laboratory

8
Module Totals

8

8
Medical
Respiratory Emergencies

9

3
Cardiac Emergencies

27

24
Diabetic Emergencies

2
Allergic Reaction

1
Poisoning/OD Emergencies

1
Neurological Emergencies

2
Abdominal Emergencies

1
Environmental Emergencies

2
Behavioral Emergencies

1
Gynecological Emergencies

2
Module Totals

48

27
Special Considerations
Obstetric Emergencies

2

1
Neonatology

2

2
Pediatrics

8

4
Geriatrics

2
Module Total

14

7
Assessment Based Management
Assessment Based Management

12
Module Totals

12
Clinical and Field
Clinical

50
Field

75

Note: These recommendations do not consider any miscellaneous classroom tine (i.e. exams, review, program administrative time, breaks, etc.)